Spray nozzle



L. o. HEGSTAD 2,778,687

Jan. 22, 1957 SPRAY NOZZLE Filed OCT.. 11, 1954 f CU lo ATTORNE 5 25 .30 HORIZONTAL DISTANCE IN FEET FROM NOZZLE United States lPatent O SPRAY NUZZLE Lester 0. Hegstad, Roscoe, Ill., assgnor'to Hanson llquipment Company, South Beloit, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 11, 1954, Serial No. 461,486

7 Claims. (Cl. 299-153) This invention relates to liquid spray nozzles of the type having an elongated discharge orifice opening outwardly from an internal recess in the nozzle body and shaped to produce a flattened fan-shaped'l spray pattern ofliquid discharged therefrom under pressure.

The general object of the invention is to increase the range of a nozzle of the above character while kinsuring uniformity of liquid distribution throughout the increased range.

Another object is to provide an improved nozzle construction in which the orice andthe internal recess are shaped in a novel manner to take advantage of substantially the full liquid pressure for throwing the major portion of the liquid farther from the nozzle while providing a wide angle between the edges of the fan-shaped discharge pattern to insure uniform coverage in the portion of the range adjacent the nozzle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willA become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of a cluster of nozzles embodying the present invention, the spray pattern of one nozzle being shown on a reduced scale.

Fig. 2 is an .end view of one of the improved nozzles in the cluster taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the nozzle taken along the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the nozzle taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a development View of the improvedv nozzle orifice. v

Fig. 6 is a chart showing the distribution of liquid from the improved nozzle in different positions thereof.

The improved nozzle 10 shown in the drawings to illustrate the present invention comprises generally a .cylindrical body l1 having an internal recess 12 communicating at its inner end with the exterior of the body through a discharge orifice 13 which is elongated to produce a llattened fan-shaped spray pattern 14. The nozzle is particularly suited for' use in mobile spraying units `as'a part of a cluster l5 of nozzles on a-hollow fitting 16 which is apertured centrally as indicated at 17 for connection to a spray line of a pressure fluid system (not shown) on a vehicle and which positions the nozzles for .spraying transversely of the vehicle path to. cover a swath extending longitudinally of the path. Herein, the'. cluster includes two of the improved nozzles. 1i)v whose spray patterns 14 are directed laterally in opposite directions from the fitting in vertical planes and which are clamped to the latter by anged nuts 18 threaded onto the fittingv and engaging an external flange on each nozzle body. The range covered by one improved nozzle is indicated at a in Fig. l. A third nozzle 19 of. the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,621,078 is threaded into an aperture in the fitting to cover a gap between the'spray patterns of. the two improved nozzles.

2,778,687 Patented Jan. 22, 1.957

ice

Generally, the orifice 13 of each improved nozzle 10 is elongated in an axial plane .of the body 11 and comprises .a U-shaped end portion 20 through which the major portion of the liquid is discharged and a V-shaped .end portion 21. The liquid to be discharged through the orifice ows toward the orice end of .the internal recess 12 .through an internal passage which constitutes the outer end portion of the recess .and is defined herein by a cylin- .drical wall 22 concentric with the axis 24 of the body.

In accordance with the present invention the end portions 20 and `21 ofthe orifice 13 of each improved nozzle 10 are located in a novel manner relative to the internal recess 12 to increase the range a of the nozzle over that of similar nozzles used heretofore and thereby increase the width of the swath. of the cluster 15 while, at the same time, .insuring uniformity yof liquid distribution throughout the swath and avoiding the use of additional nozzles. To increase the nozzle range, the U-shaped end portion 20 and therefore' the. major portion yof the area of the orifice are disposed in ya wall 23 (Fig. 3) defining the inner end of the internal recess 12. The liquid discharged through the U-shaped orifice end thus flows straight through the nozzle body along its axis 24 and retains substantially all 'of the energy resulting from the liquid pressure. The recess end wall 23 is generally flat and lies substantially in a radial plane of the body so that the liquid discharged through the U-shaped orifice end tends to remain in a stream traveling longitudinally of the body axis 24 and to the outer part of the swath. It is believed that the increased throw of liquid achieved with the improved nozzle is due to discharge. of the major portion of the liquid in such ya stream which travels straight through the body.

The remaining minor portion of liquid is discharged laterally of the body axis 24 through the V-shaped orifice end portion 21 which is formed in an annular wall 25 of arcuate cross section concentric with the body axis and curving outwardly and away from the flat end wall 23. To provide a wide inclusive angle between the inner and outer edges 26 and 27 of the fan-shaped spray pattern 14 for covering areas adjacent the nozzle while permitting discharge of the major portion of the liquid along the axis, the arcuate wall 25 is made of semi-toroidal shape and curves first outwardly from the flat wall and then inwardly to the cylindrical wall 22 to define a groove which is undercut below and extends radially and outwardly beyond the cylindrical wall. The V-shaped orice end 21 extends from a point adjacent the bottom of the groove and around the arcuate wall to a point adjacent the ilat wall 23. At the latter point where the orifice end portionsjoin, the V-shaped end portion is of its maximum width which is less than the width of the U-shaped end portion so as to provide a restriction.

In the construction of the improved nozzle l0, the recess 12 is formed iirst by drilling and boring operations, the radii of the cylindrical and arcuate walls 22 and 25, in one nozzle constructed in accordance with the invention, being equal to one-half of these radii as shown in Fig. 3 which is a double scale representation of such a nozzle. Next, a V-shaped external groove extending inwardly to intersect the recess is ycut by a rotary cutter (not shown) having a diameter of 21A. inches and a V- shaped peripheral edge with an included angle of 30 degrees. The lines 280i intersection between the walls 29 of the external groove and the internal arcuate wall 25 define the V-shaped orifice end portion 21, these edges converging toward the junction of the cylindrical side wall 22 and the arcuate intermediate wall 25 with the point of convergence spaced a short distance beyond the bottom of the internal groove defined by the arcuate wall.

The U-shaped orifice end por-tion 20 is defined by lines 30 of intersection between the at wall 23 and the walls 31' of a U-shaped external groove `cut by a cylindrical end :af/vaast x mill 32, which is rotated about an axis paralleling Ithe body axis while it is fed radially and inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3. In this instance, the end mill is stopped just short of the point of intersection of the V-shaped groove walls 29 and the iiat wall 23 so that the U-shaped orifice end portion includes a notch 33 of very small dimension. The inner end of the end mill 32 is spaced inwardly from the fiat wall 23 a short distance as shown in Fig. 3 and intersects the arcuate wall 25 in lines 34 (Fig. 4) which constitute shoulders joining the diverging edges 28 of the small orifice end 21 and the more widely spaced parallel edges 30 of the larger orifice end 2li. Herein, the V-shaped orifice end portion 21 is approximately one-half as long as the Umhaped end portion 253 and the maximum spacing of the diverging edges 28 is approximately .O62 of an inch and that of the parallel edges 3d equals approximately .073 of an inch, the diameterof the end mill.

ln the operation of the improved nozzle lll, the portion of the liquid stream discharged lthrough the U- shaped orifice end 2@ and defining the outer edge 26 of the spray pattern 14 leaves the orifice 13 at an angle of approxi-mately 4 relative to the body axis 24. To provide the desired trajectory when the axial plane of the orifice and therefore the spray pattern 14 are in a vertical plane and the nozzle is approximately 3 feet above the ground, the angle of the outer pattern edge 26 relative to the horizontal is approximately 22 so that the nozzle is supported by the fitting ld with the body axis at an angle of 26 relative to the horizontal. Under these conditions and with liquid ilowing through the nozzle at a pressure of 40 pounds per square inch, liquid at the outer edge of the spray pattern travels -to a distance of approximately 36 feet from the nozzle. From this outer point of the range a to a distance of approximately 2 feet from the nozzle, the discharge of liquid is substantially uniform as illustrated by a curve 3S in Fig. 6. Such uniformity in the middle portion of this range is believed to be due to the restriction resulting from the spacing of the diverging orifice edges 2S inwardly from the parallel edges Si) at the junction of the orifice end portions so that the speed of the inner portion of the stream flowing through the U-shaped orifice end is reduced, the restriction producing a drag on the adjacent liquid from the U-shaped end while speeding up lthe liquid ow through the adjacent part of the V-shaped orifice end. Thus, the inner portion of the stream emanating from the `U-shaped end portion Ztl tends to spread out and downwardly to cover the intermediate part of `the range a. At the inner portion of the spray pattern 1d, the liquid discharged through the J-shaped orifice end 2l travels laterally of the body axis due to the curvature of the arcuate wall 25 and decreases in a volume toward the inner edge 2'7 of the pattern because of the taper of the orifice. The pattern 14 at its inner edge 27, overlaps that of the central nozzle 19 of the cluster, the included angle between the edges of the improved spray pattern in this instance being approximately 75.

To avoid drifting of the spray pattern 14 and the accompanying unevenness of distribution caused by unfavorable wind conditions, the spray pattern 14 also may be directed in a generally horizontal plane. This is accomplished by turning the fitting so `that the axial planes of the orifices 13 and the body axes 24 of the improved nozzles in the 'cluster 16 are disposed at angles of 22 relative to the horizontal, the cluster being spaced approximately 6 inches above the ground. The distribution of liquid under these conditions is illustrated by the curve 35 in Fig. 6 from which it will be seen that liquid is thrown from the nozzle to a distance of approximately 3l feet therefrom. Substantial uniformity of liquid distribution in this case occurs between points spaced respectively 22 feet and 29 feet from the nozzle.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, due to the increased swath width and uniformity of liquid distribution throughout the swath with a cluster 16 of the improved nozzles 10, a given area may be covered evenly in a shorter time than was possible heretofore thereby resulting in a substantial savings in labor. Such improved results are achieved without increasing the cost of the `apparatus since only three nozzles are required in the cluster and because the improved nozzles may be constructed easily on automatic machines.

I claim as my invention:

l. A nozzle comprising a body having an elongated internal recess defined at one end portion by a tubular wall and at its other end portion by a generally flat wall disposed radially of the recess and spaced axially from the tubular wall and an annular wall of arcuate cross sectional shape, said annular wall merging with and joining said flat wall and said tubular wall and defining an internal groove extending radially and outwardly beyond the tubular wall, and surfaces on the exterior of said body defining an external groove and intersecting said flat and annular walls along lines dening the edges of an orifice elongated in an axial plane of said annular wall, said lines diverging gradually from one end of said orifice adjacent the bottom of said internal groove to a point adjacent said at wall, then diverging abruptly to a maximum spacing, and finally extending in parallel at the maximum spacing and along the flat wall to a point spaced radially and inwardly from said tubular wall where they converge to define the other end of the orifice.

2. A spray nozzle comprising a body, means on said body defining an internal recess of annular cross section and including a flat wall lying substantially in a radial plane of the recess and an annular wall of arcuate cross section merging at one edge with said tlat wall and extending axially away from the liat wall first radially outward and then radially inward to its other edge, and surfaces on said body defining ya groove extending inwardly from the exterior thereof and intersecting said recess in an elongated discharge opening having a U-shaped end portion opening outwardly through said fiat wall and extending radially and inwardly beyond said other edge of said arcuate wall and a V-shaped end portion opening outwardly through said arcuate wall, said V-shaped orifice end portion, at the juncture of the two end portions, having a maximum width less than the width of said U-shaped end portionA to provide a restriction reducing the ow of liquid through the junction.

3. A nozzle comprising a body having a generally flat internal wall, an annular wall of arcuate cross section substantially merging at one edge with a peripheral edge of said fiat wall and defining a groove opening inwardly along said at wall, and means defining an elongated orifice having a U-shapcd end portion opening outwardly through said flat end wall and a V-shaped end portion opening outwardly from said internal groove and extending from the junction of said walls around the groove to a point adjacent the bottom thereof, said V-shaped orifice end portion having a maximum width less than the width of said U-shaped end portion adjacent said junction to provide a restriction reducing the flow of liquid through the junction.

4. A spray nozzle comprising a body having an elongated internal recess of annular cross section communieating with the exterior of the body through an inlet opening at one end of the recess `and an orifice at the other end and including a passage extending from the inlet opening and short of said other end of the recess, said recess, between said other end thereof and said passa-ge, being undercut radially and outwardly beyond the periphery of the passage to define an annular groove and said orifice being elongated from a point adjacent the bottom of said groove toward 'and across said other recess end and radially inward beyond the periphery of the passage and having a U-shaped end portion and the major portion of its area disposed in the end of the recess and a V-shaped end portion extending around said groove,

5. A nozzle comprising a body having an internal recess of annular cross section dened at its inner end by a generally at wall lying substantially in a radial plane of the recess, an annular internal wall of arcuate cross section curving rst axially an-d radially outward from said at wall and then radially and inwardly to deine an inwardly opening Igroove in said recess adjacent the at wall, surfaces extending inwardly from the exterior of said body and intersecting said flat and arcuate walls to define an elongated orice having a iiat end portion of U shape opening axially through said flat wall and extending radially and inwardly from said arcuate wall to a point beyond said |groove and a curved end portion of V-shape opening outwardly from said groove and extending around said arcuate wall from said at wall to a point adjacent the bottom of the groove.

6. A nozzle comprising a hollow body having an internal side wall defining a passage and a generally at end wall normal to and spaced beyond the inner end of said passage, an intermediate wall connecting `the inner end of said side wall and the periphery of said end wall and dening an inwardly opening groove extending outwardly beyond said passage, and means defining an elongated orice opening outwardly through said end and groove walls with its inner end portion disposed in said 6 end Wall and its outer end portion extending outwardly and around said groove wall and having defining edges converging toward the junction between said side and groove walls.

7. A nozzle comprising a hollow body having a generally flat internal wall, a second internal wall of arcuate cross section substantially merging at one edge with a peripheral edge of said flat wall and defining a groove opening inwardly along the at wall, and means defining an elongated orice opening outwardly through said walls and having U-shaped and V-shaped end portions with the U-shaped end portion disposed in said at wall and the V-shaped end portion extending outwardly and around said groove wall and having defining edges converging toward a point adjacent the bottom of said groove.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,619,388 Wahlin Nov. 25, 1952 2,683,626 Wahlin July 13, 1954 2,683,627 Wahlin July 13, 1954 v FOREIGN PATENTS 22,269 Great Britain of 1911 

